Guide · Last verified: February 2026
How to Print Passport Photos at Home
You have a compliant digital file. This guide covers what you actually need to print it at home so the photo passes inspection — paper, printer settings, cutting, and common problems.
Written by the PixID.studio compliance team · February 2026. See State Department photo requirements.
Do you actually need to print?
Before buying photo paper: check whether your application accepts a digital upload only. Many passport and visa applications are now fully digital — online renewal (US), DS-160 visa, UK passport renewal online. If yours is digital-only, skip printing entirely and use the JPEG file directly.
You need printed photos if you're mailing your application, applying in person, or submitting a paper form.
What you need
1. A photo printer
Any modern inkjet (Canon, Epson, HP, Brother) works. It needs to support photo printing at 300 DPI or higher. Laser printers are not recommended — toner can flake and the surface finish is wrong. If your printer is more than 10 years old or only does draft quality, use a retail kiosk instead (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart — about $0.35 per print).
2. Photo paper
This is the most important part. Regular printer paper will not work — applications specify photo-quality paper and reviewers can tell. Use:
- Glossy or matte photo paper
- 200–260 GSM weight
- 4×6 inch (10×15 cm) sheets — the standard size for home printing
Cost: about $10–$15 for 50–100 sheets. Avoid textured, satin, or luster finishes.
3. A paper trimmer or sharp scissors
You must cut to exact size. A small paper trimmer with a ruler guide ($10–$20) gives cleaner, more accurate cuts than scissors. A metal ruler and sharp craft knife on a cutting mat also works.
Printer settings — what to change
Wrong settings are the most common cause of bad home prints. Before printing:
- Paper type: Set to "Photo Paper - Glossy" or "Photo Paper - Matte." Never "Plain Paper" or "Copy Paper" — this changes how the printer lays down ink.
- Print quality: Set to "Best" or "High." Not Draft, Fast, or Economy.
- Scale: Set to 100% / actual size. Turn off "Fit to page" and "Shrink to fit."
- Borders: Enable borderless printing if your printer supports it. Otherwise print with a small border and trim it off.
- Colour correction: Turn off automatic colour enhancement or auto-correct in the printer dialog. Your PixID file is already colour-correct — the printer should reproduce it as-is.
Print one test sheet first. Check it before printing multiple copies.
Resolution and file size
Most countries require 300 DPI minimum for printed passport photos. PixID outputs files at the correct resolution automatically — you don't need to change anything.
For reference:
- US 2×2 inch at 300 DPI — minimum 600×600 pixels
- 35×45 mm at 300 DPI — minimum 413×531 pixels
If you're using the PixID printable sheet (recommended), the layout is already correct for 4×6 paper at the right resolution.
Printing the right size
Passport photos are small (2×2 inches or 35×45 mm). Photo paper is 4×6 inches. You have two options:
Option 1 — Printable sheet (recommended)
On the PixID download page, select "Printable sheet." This gives you a 4×6 file with multiple passport photos already arranged with crop marks. Print the whole sheet on one piece of 4×6 photo paper, then cut along the marks. Most efficient — four photos from one sheet.
Option 2 — Single photo
Print the individual photo file at actual size on 4×6 paper. You'll get one photo per sheet and need to measure and cut it yourself.
Do not use the printer's built-in "passport photo" or "wallet size" templates — these vary by manufacturer and may not be accurate.
Cutting
After printing, wait 5 minutes for ink to dry before cutting.
US passport (2×2 inches): Cut to exactly 50.8×50.8 mm.
UK/EU/most countries (35×45 mm): Cut to exactly 35×45 mm.
Use a paper trimmer or a metal ruler and sharp scissors on a flat surface. Cut once — smooth, straight strokes. Check: no white borders, edges straight, exact size. Most specs allow 1–2 mm tolerance.
Quality check before submitting
Under good lighting, verify:
- Colours look natural — skin tone accurate, no strong colour cast
- Sharp and clear — no blur, pixelation, or banding lines across the image
- Clean surface — no fingerprints, smudges, dust, or creases
- Cuts straight and precise — correct size, no white borders
- Paper is photo paper, not regular paper
If anything fails, reprint. If colours are consistently wrong, check that paper type is set correctly in the printer driver — this is the most common cause.
Common problems and fixes
Wrong colours / colour cast
Set paper type to "Photo Paper" (not Plain Paper). Turn off auto colour correction. Replace low ink cartridges.
Blurry or pixelated
Check file resolution (min 600×600 px for US 2×2 at 300 DPI). Set print quality to Best. Don't upscale a small file.
Horizontal banding lines
Run the printer's head cleaning utility. Run print head alignment. Replace cartridges if old.
Too dark or too light
Set paper type correctly. Check that you haven't accidentally enabled Draft mode. Adjust brightness in printer settings only if needed — the PixID file is already calibrated.
Ink smudges when touched
Wait longer before cutting — inkjet prints need 5–10 minutes to dry fully. Matte paper dries faster than glossy.
White borders on final print
Enable borderless printing in printer settings, or trim the border off after printing.
When to skip home printing
Home printing is not worth it if:
- You only need one or two photos (a retail kiosk at CVS or Walgreens costs $0.35 — often cheaper than photo paper for a single print)
- Your printer is old or low quality
- You don't have photo paper on hand
- Your application is fully digital — just upload the JPEG
Don't have your compliant photo yet?
Create a compliant digital photo at PixID.studio — then print at home or at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart.
Get My Photo — $4.99